Biblioteca Salaborsa

Since December 2001, the Bologna's central library has been housed in the Sala Borsa, just off Piazza Maggiore at the Neptune statue, opposite Palazzo Re Enzo. It's an excellent example of how Italian architecture regularly succeeds in integrating ancient history with contemporary purpose. Once inside, with the purchase of a tessera (pre-paid card) you can use the banks of computers for Internet access, or if you have a laptop, even connect wirelessly from anywhere on the upper two floors. There are also retail shops and two cafes, making it all the more inviting if the weather's intemperate. //text from livingveniceblog.com